Counting Justice-Involved Veterans: The Data Challenge

• In Event: Addressing the Gaps: Improving Identification and Support for Justice-Involved Veterans

Abstract

Accurately identifying veterans within the U.S. criminal justice system remains a persistent challenge, limiting the ability to provide tailored support to this population. Although a 2016 estimate suggested nearly 98,000 veterans were incarcerated in state prisons, more recent efforts to update this figure remain incomplete. A recent Council on Criminal Justice study offers a partial snapshot, identifying approximately 52,000 veterans in state prisons across 46 states. However, this figure is likely an undercount, reflecting both methodological limitations and inconsistent identification practices across jurisdictions.

Identification methods vary by state and often by facility. Many states rely primarily on self-reported veteran status, a method shown to under-identify this population, while others use the Veterans Re-Entry Search Service (VRSS) or a combination of both approaches. The gaps in identification not only obscure the true number of incarcerated veterans but also contribute to service delivery failures, leaving many veterans without access to programs designed to meet their specific needs. Addressing these shortcomings requires the wider adoption of hybrid identification models, improvements in VRSS accuracy, and stronger data collection standards—steps recommended by the Veterans Justice Commission to ensure that veterans in the criminal justice system are properly recognized and supported.

Author

• Stephanie C. Kennedy, Council on Criminal Justice